johnsmithuk

Everything built in it's temporary homes. A second pack of retaining wall is on its way to me, depending on how the bridge scenic break ends up, a third may be required.

Wall building has gone well.

That is so simple, it is amazing.

Work has continued on the test track. Soldering is being practiced, and apart from a slighty melted sleeper, it seems to have gone ok.

That was a morning well spent. The roof isn't glued down, as the plan is for lighting to be added, and I'd like to see the planned detailing inside.

Very quick update, the walls of the two road shed are complete and drying.

You are more than likely correct. I just prefer to go over the top on some things. Should I need to move the layout, I'm sure I can find some helping hands.

Today I decided to start practicing my card construction techniques. Before commencing on the Metcalfe two road shed, I built the workman's hut that is included. This was my first ever card building, and it went together reasonably smoothly, and took about an hour to complete. I did not glue the roof, based on using it to practice lighting a building. I intend to practice detailing and weathering on this building too.

I had a thought this morning, (dangerous, I know), I'm intending putting in a few point motors, and I have never used a point motor in my life. I decided some practice was in order. Using my beyond basic joinery skills I put together a tiny baseboard to run a test layout on bodged together some offcuts to make a test piece. Picture below for you to mock. I have drilled out a hole for the bar for the point actuator, and a few holes for droppers, not all will be used. As well as practising the fitting of the motors, it will allow me to practice ballasting away from the main board too. Track placement on the layout itself has been tested and checked for clearence of the exoskeleton, as the intention is to run stock off the board to a fiddle casette at some point. A road bridge will act as a scenic break. Thanks for looking. John

More slight movement forwards. The SMS sections are now glued, and the cork has been cut and glued down too. The surface is lovely and smooth.

Experimentation has shown the No. 5's are too short for the wagons, so a longer version is on order. The cork is laid out and weighted down to try and flatten it a bit before glueing down as they were rolled tight. More epoxy has been poured in readiness for the new couplings arriving. The plan for tomorrow is to glue the SMS boards together aswell as using the bolts provided, and then complete the sides and back top rails of the exoskeleton on the baseboards. At this point the cork can be glued down and then final track placement can commence. 1mm copper rod has arrived for passing power from the bus to the rails. I am hoping this can simplify and help create a stable platform for the electrics. The plan at the moment is to the feed into terminal block before joining to the bus, allowing for easier removal if needed. Thanks for reading my inane ramblings. John

Dare I celebtrate a small success? The epoxy set nicely, and a 1.5mm hole was drilled in it. One screw later and my first ever Kadee is fitted!!!!! Pictures below, feel free to pull apart my working as this is a learning exercise. John

Small update, with a picture. The postman has been playing Santa again and dropped of the Metcalfe two road shed I ordered, along with some rolling roads. Kadee conversion. After checking the height roughly earlier, some epoxy has been acquired and used to fill the old hole in the wagon, to allow a new one to be drilled. A small sticker is across the bottom, and air bubbles have been expelled, I'll see how it has set tomorrow morning after my nightshift. Small picture below. Thanks for reading. John

Today is the last day before my work cycle starts for four shifts. Making the most of the weather being dry, I made a start on the box for the control panel. It still needs a 'light' sanding and some paint.

Great work. Can I ask a question? What is the construction in the middle of the layout? Thanks.

The postman was early today, but he had a nice parcel for me. Point motors and a CDU. I'm not yet at the point of installing them, but it is great they have arrived.

Kadee conversion has started. Waiting on some suitable screws to be delivered, but checking for height, it looks good.

Base sub-frame is screwed together. Slight pause as the drill battery charges back up. Supplementary holes are being put in the noggins in case more wire access is needed. Progress is pictured below.

Another quick update. Exoskeleton for the SMS baseboard units is coming along nicely. Only problem is I need more wood for noggins as I got the sums wrong on what I would have leftover. I know it is overkill, but if this goes well, and the world starts behaving again, it MIGHT be interesting to exhibit what a rank amateur can do.

Everything fits nice for the Inglenook side of things. A surprising delivery has also arrived at the works.

The pictures will return today. I've finished my latest work cycle, so back to modelling. A further baseboard support has been purchased and constructed. This may or may not look like a kitchen cabinet base with another piece of MDF joining it to the existing one. There is a reason for this. It is a kitchen cabinet base unit with MDF on top. A trial laying out of track reveals it will lay ok, avoiding baseboard section joints. The card covering the two roads at the left hand edge again represent the footprint of a Metcalfe two road engine shed. The card on the two roads at the right hand edge represent cut off ends/buffer locations. A roll of cork is on order to smooth out the joins. The 06's mentioned in the previous post have arrived, along with a Hornby 4 pin decoder. The sample set of Kadee couplings and height guide have also arrived, so a test track will be put on some scrap to start conversion testing of some wagons. More freewheel testing of operations will continue before calling the trackplan as set in stone. Next purchases will be point motors (x7 at the moment) then getting power wiring layed out then soldered. Thanks for reading. John

Slight updates, no pictures today. The second two SMS baseboard units are glued and drying. I am very impressed with them. Very easy to get square, and stay that way. I have moved on the Eurostar from a Hornby set I was given a while back. From the funds raised, two Class 06's are on their way to me and a pair of 4 pin decoders to hardwire in. I still have a lot of 2nd radius curves, and the controller, which may be repurposed for powering lights on the layout. The track will be sold on in time. I have ordered a sample of Kadee couplings to see if I can convert the wagons I already own. If the trial is successful, a lot more will be ordered and a plentiful supply of neodymium magnets will be implanted into the track beds. The aim is full hands free operation. I am leaning towards the works being the leftovers of an old yard that has mostly been taken over and redeveloped, with the layout being all that is left, and a restoration works for older stock, just about surviving in the modern age. This will allow the use of four wheel wagons and a mish mash of liveries and eras. Taking that a small step further I am thinking of an old two road engine shed, with more modern fittings showing the passage of time, for the main works building itself. Thanks for reading. John.

Too soon?

Progress, the first two of the four baseboard sections are glued and drying.

This morning using a suitable flat surface I laid out the track on the baseboards and had a few simulated runs with an 08 with no motor and a wagon. All my wagons are this size so it is a fair representation. The scenic will be tight, but that was expected, and it will take a small slant if I want to. The cardboard on the right hand edge is to simulate cutting those sidings a little shorter, and the left hand cardboard is for the shed/works building. All seems well. Imagination will be required to get the place to operate as a wagon works, however the inglenook side if this is spot on. Pictures below, comments welcome.